Steam-propelled road-vehicle.



Patented Apr. 22, I902.

8. S. STBAKEB. STEAM PROPELLED ROAD VEHICLE.

tApplication filed Oct. 28, 1901.)

2' Sheets-Shut I.

(No Model.)

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No. 698,231' Patentd Apr. 22,1902. S48. STRAKER.

STEAM PROPELLED ROAD VEHICLE.

lApplication filed Oct. 28, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

SIDNEY S. STRAKER, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

STEAIVFPR'OPELLED ROAD-VEHICLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 698,232, dated April 22, 1902.

Application filed October 28, 1901. Serial No. 80.329. (N0 model.)

driving mechanism. For this purpose I fix 1 a horizontal compound steam-engine under the frame of the vehicle, the engine being provided with suitable means of lubricating the working parts and being inclosed in a dust-proof casinghaving doors to give free access to the moving parts. I preferably arrange the engine with the cylinders outside and their steam-chests between them. The crank-shaft has fitted to slide on it two toothed pinions of different diameters which can be put into and out of gear with two toothed wheels of different diameters upona transverse counter-shaft, which has on it a sprocketpinion and drives through a'roller-chain a sprocket-wheel on the difierential gear con nected to the driving or road wheels. The axle of these Wheels rotates in axle-boxes, on which the rear end of the frame is carried on springs. These boxes are connected by radius-rods to points correspondingto the axis of the counter-shaft, so that the rise or fall of the body and frame of the vehicle on the springs does not alter the distance of the centers of the shafts connected by the chaingear.

In order to lessen the twisting effect on the frame of the vehicle when it travels over un-' even roads, I arrange the frame so that it is supported at three points only instead of four points, as is commonly done, and for this purpose I carry the front end of the frame on a roller-bearing, which allows an attachment to the middle of the front axle freely to turn for steering purposes, while at the same time the axle itself has freedom subject to springs to rock in a transverse vertical plane, yielding to inequalities of the track. The attachment of the front axle is connected by worm and bevel-gear to a hand-wheel, by turning which the axle is turned-more or less in the horizontal plane for steering. The steam-boiler, which may be of any approved construction, with fuel-bunkers and water-tank, is arranged substantially over the front axle, so thatthe hind wheels have to carry only the weight of the vehicle and its load.

Such being the general'character of a steam propelled road-vehicle according to my invention,'I shall proceed to describe the details of construction and arrangement, referring to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a side View, and Fig. 2 is a plan, of the underframe and the engines and gear carried by it. Fig. 3 is a view of the front end, one of the front wheels being shown in section. Fig. 4. is a vertical section of the bearing for the front end of the vehicle on the front axle.

Ct is the steam-boiler, having as adjuncts suitable fuel-bunkers and water-tank, which are arranged to suit the particular form and dimensions of the boiler employed.

6 indicates the pair of engines, consisting of two cylinders placed side by side with their slide-valves in steam-chests between them. The piston-rods are guided in the usualway and connected to cranks at right angles to each other on a crank-shaft c. On the crank-shaft c are fitted to slide on feathers a pair of toothed pinions d of different diameters, either of which can be slid into or out of gear with one of a pair of corresponding wheels 6, fixed on a counter-shaftf. A sprocket-Wheel g on the counter-shaft is connected by a chain, preferably having roller-pins, to asprocket-wheel on the difierential gear h, which is connectedin the usual way to the axles of the two hind or driving wheels vii. These wheels overhang their bearings, each of which is formed in one end of a radius-rod j, the other end of which is adjustably fixed to a crank-arm pivoted on the bearing of the counter-shaft f. Between the of the Vehicle and having balls 3 for its bearing on the piece m. A Worm t, mounted in hearings on the lower front part of the vehicle,gears with a toothed segment projecting from the piece m, and this worm is connected by bevel-gear and an inclined shaft u to a hand-wheel U, by turning which the vehicle is steered.

The brake'blocks 11 are connected by rod 12 to a bell-crank lever13, Worked by screwand-nut gear from a hand-wheel 14. The driver, placed immediately behind the boiler, has within easy reach the steering-wheel 1, the reversing-lever 10, the brake-wheel l L, and the steam-valves 15.

Having thus described my invention, what I I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,

In a steam-propelled road-vehicle, the com bination with the front axle connected by springs to the frame so that it can rock and slide vertically, of a boiler arranged over the said axle, a shaft, a pair of horizontal engines in communication with the boiler and having their piston-rods connected to cranks at right angles to one another on said shaft, a pair of pinions of difierent diameters mounted on said shaft, a counter-shaft, a pair of wheels mounted on the counter-shaft and adapted to be suitably engaged by the said pinions, a sprocket-pinion mounted on said counter-shaft, a diiferential gear connecting the two parts of the hind axle of the vehicle, a sprocket wheel on said gear, connections between said sprocket-pinion and said sprocketwheel, springs attached to the frame of the vehicle and adapted to slide under it, bear" ings carried by the springs for the hind axle, a bearing on the counter-shaft, and a radiusrod for connecting the springs to the bearing on the counter-shaft.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

SIDNEY S. STRAKER.

\Vitnesses:

FRED. C. HARRIS, WALTER J. SKERTEN. 

